Zanzibar, Tanzania

Getting around Zanzibar

How to travel around Zanzibar — 5 options, what they cost, and which booking apps fix the fare before you go.

Last updated 2026-08-11

1. Dala dala

Converted trucks with bench seating running fixed routes across the island, very cheap and very slow.

Cost: TZS 2,000–5,000

2. Ferry from Dar es Salaam

Two hours by fast catamaran, and the crossing most visitors arrive on.

Watch outPort touts selling 'resident' tickets that are invalid for foreigners, and marked-up tickets outside the official office.

3. Taxis

There is no ride-hailing app on the island, so every fare is negotiated before you get in.

Tip: Ask your accommodation what the run should cost before you start negotiating.

4. Scooter and quad hire

Widely available, and a Zanzibar permit is legally required on top of your own licence.

Watch outPolice stops for riders without the local permit, which hire shops sometimes fail to mention.

5. Airport transfer

Abeid Amani Karume is close to Stone Town but an hour or more from the northern beaches.

Booking apps in Tanzania

Agreeing the fare in an app before you travel removes the argument at the end of the journey, which is where most transport scams happen. Links go to each app's official page — lookalike apps are themselves a scam.

Bolt

Main ride-hailing operator on the Tanzanian mainland.

Coverage: Dar es Salaam and Arusha; not on Zanzibar, where taxis are negotiated.
Why it helps: Fare is agreed in the app before the trip, and the route is recorded — which removes the refused meter, the tampered meter and the fixed 'foreigner price' in one move.

Uber

Present in the largest mainland cities.

Coverage: Dar es Salaam.
Why it helps: Fare is agreed in the app before the trip, and the route is recorded — which removes the refused meter, the tampered meter and the fixed 'foreigner price' in one move.

Azam Marine

The main Dar es Salaam–Zanzibar ferry operator, bookable in advance.

Coverage: Dar es Salaam to Stone Town.
Why it helps: Buying direct avoids the port touts who sell marked-up tickets and 'foreigner' fares that do not exist.